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Main Characters
Ryuu Jusetsu/Liu Shouxue
Voiced by: Saku Mizuno (Japanese), Alexis Tipton (English)
The titular Raven Consort. She was brought to the inner palace at a young age to become the next Raven Consort. She lives in Yeming Palace and rarely ventures out.
- Aloof Dark-Haired Girl: Although her black hair is actually dyed, she's still standoffish and mysterious at first.
- Antiquated Linguistics: She talks in a proper way because the previous Raven Consort was an old woman who came from a noble family. It wasn't until she began interacting with people outside Yeming Palace that she learns that the way she talks is old fashioned.
- Beware the Quiet Ones: She might appear as a delicate and stoic beauty, but she's also a trained sorceress who is willing to use her powers to defend herself.
- Big Eater: Food is the one thing that can make her change her mind, due to her rough childhood.
- Court Mage: Her official duty as the Raven Consort. Her services include exorcisms, locating missing objects or people, communicating and recalling the spirit of the dead, or cursing people. All for a price of course, but it isn't strictly necessary.
- Don't You Dare Pity Me!: She responds badly when Gaojun tells her that he pities her, splashing him with tea and shouting at him.
- Dye or Die: She dyes her white hair black because it's a dead giveaway of her being a surviving member of the Luan clan, the previous dynasty that was exterminated due to false accusations of treason. This is what saved her from being killed as a child.
- Eerie Pale-Skinned Brunette: She has pale skin and dark hair with a mysterious air about her. She's more down-to-earth than she looks, though. However, the brunette part is subverted as her natural hair color is actually a snowy white.
- Empty Shell: Shouxue became one after seeing her mother's decapitated head at age four. The previous Raven Consort, Li Niang, filled her up again.
- Food as Bribe: Surprisingly, one can get her to fulfill requests just by offering food.
- Light Feminine and Dark Feminine: Shouxue is aloof, mysterious and wears dark dresses, in contrast to Jiujiu who is friendly, energetic and wears bright dresses.
- Made a Slave: She became a slave after her mother's death and she was found on the streets. Years later, she was "rescued" from that life by being appointed as the next Raven Consort.
- Mystical White Hair: Her natural hair color is white and she uses mysterious arts to perform sorcery and exorcisms.
- No Social Skills: Due to spending most of her life shut inside Yeming Palace to train to become the next Raven Consort, Shouxue has to learn how to deal with people and tends to be pretty direct.
- Obsessed with Food: The narrative of the first volume outright states as much when the emperor offers her good food, and she struggles to resist its siren call. This is why, if you want her to do something for you, giving her good food, especially sweets, will make her at least willing to hear you out.
- Petal Power: She casts her spells by blowing flower petals into the wind.
- Raven Hair, Ivory Skin: Gaojun and Qing are taken aback by her beauty when they first meet her. This is subverted as her hair is actually dyed black to hide her silver hair.
- Real Name as an Alias: To an extent. Shouxue is her real name, but first volume of the light novels reveal that that Liu isn't actually her surname. It's a name that was given to her to help conceal her maternal heritage. Her mother was a member of the Luan clan.
- Sour Outside, Sad Inside: Shouxue acts curt and blunt to most people, but deep down she's actually very lonely and has trauma from her childhood. As well as knowing the destiny of the Raven Consort.
- Survivor Guilt: She feels guilty for surviving the extermination of the Luan clan and leaving her mother to die.
- Your Favorite: She's bribed by Gaojun with her favorite food, so she will actually listen to his request without kicking him out again.
Ka Koushun/Xia Gaojun
Voiced by: Masaaki Mizunaka (Japanese), Christopher Wehkamp (English)
The current Emperor. He was once deposed as the crown prince, but ascended the throne after defeating the wicked Empress Dowager, who killed his mother. He's childhood friends with Yun Huaniang, the granddaughter of his prime minister and tutor, Yun Yongde.
- Birds of a Feather: He and Shouxue relate over feeling as though they failed their loved ones. In particular, Shouxue realizes that like her, Gaojun was an Empty Shell and still has a void in his heart that can't be filled; though where she got by thanks to Liniang's care, Gaojun persisted through hatred towards the Empress Dowager.
- Celibate Hero: Downplayed. Although he asks Shouxue early on if she would consider becoming his consort proper, he's otherwise mentioned to be rather disinterested in matters of romance and sex, only visiting his consorts (rarely) out of formality since ignoring them would be offensive.
- The Emperor: His position, taking the throne from the Empress Dowager at age eighteen.
- Everyone Calls Him "Barkeep": Averted in an unusual example for a setting quite clearly based on Imperial China. Rather than the protocol-demanded Huang Shang note or Di Xia note , Shouxue regularly calls him by his given name of Gaojun instead. This is normally a severe no-no and maybe a hint as to their respective roles as "The King of Winter" and "The King of Summer" and thus meant to be equals, rather than liege and subject. Notice how Wei Qing and other characters who are clearly his subjects still call him with the traditional title of Di Xia note .
- The Fettered: He's an upright and honest emperor who strongly believes in sticking to the law and tradition, even if it means not executing the person who killed his mother and friend because he doesn't have solid evidence.
- If You Kill Him, You Will Be Just Like Him!: Even though he has the authority to execute the Empress Dowager for whatever reason he wants now, he refuses to do so before getting solid evidence of her crimes because he doesn't want to be like her.
- Like Brother and Sister: He sees Huaniang as an older sister.
- Nerves of Steel: Unlike Wei Qing, who tends to be visibly disturbed, the various supernatural incidents and/or horrific sights seen in Shouxue's work don't bother Gaojun.
- Reasonable Authority Figure: Is always courteous, understanding, and reasonable, and willingly rewrites the law in part so Shouxue won't have to fear execution anymore. He also waits until he has actual evidence of her crimes before he executes the Emperess Dowager rather than just use his power to have her executed at the first opportunity.
- Secret-Keeper: He discovers Shouxue is one of the last members of the Luan clan when he runs into her washing her natural white hair, but he swears to protect her secret.
- The Stoic: He rarely shows his emotions on his face.
- Used to Be a Sweet Kid: According to Huaniang, he used to be much more expressive, but having his mother and friend die at the hands of the Empress Dowager, and then becoming deposed and banished to live at the edges of the palace has caused him to become closed off and emotionally withdrawn.
- Warrior Prince: When he raised an army against the then-Empress while he was the prince.
Yeming Palace
Jiujiu
Voiced by: Marika Kouno (Japanese), Bryn Apprill (English)
A kitchen maid who later becomes Shouxue's attendant. She is one of the first people Shouxue befriends after venturing outside of Yeming Palace.
- Genki Girl: In contrast to much of the cast, Jiujiu is lively and cheerful.
- Lady-In-Waiting: By the end of the first volume, she is permanently Shouxue's attendant.
- Light Feminine and Dark Feminine: Jiujiu is friendly, energetic and wears bright dresses, in contrast to Shouxue who is aloof, mysterious and wears dark dresses.
On Kei/Wen Ying
Voiced by: Nobunaga Shimazaki (Japanese), Alejandro Saab (English)
A former street musician who was turned into an eunuch for defending his troupe mate harassed by a client of high status, and is now assigned as Shouxue's bodyguard by Wei Qing.
- Because You Were Nice to Me: A variation, in that Shouxue's kindness isn't directed towards him, but what earns her Wen Ying's loyalty is openly expressing disapproval over Yisiha's beating. While she thought it was a normal reaction, Wen Ying resents that no one spoke up on his behalf when he was once unjustly punished, and is thus touched that Shouxue would defend the weak.
- Blemished Beauty: He has a scar on his cheek, but it's noted to look more like a decoration than anything detracting from his beauty.
- The Stoic: He tends to be taciturn.
Tan Kai/Dan Hai
Voiced by: Nobuhiko Okamoto (Japanese)
A skilled investigative eunuch who is assigned as Shouxue's second bodyguard after the incident with Xiaoyue.
- Adaptational Early Appearance: In the anime, he shows up in the episode adapting the Flower Whistle chapter from Volume 1. In the novels, he first appeared in Volume 3.
- Impoverished Patrician: Dan Hai was the son of a noble family, but the family lost its fortune to which he ended up becoming a bandit to survive, and was eventually demoted into an eunuch as punishment upon being arrested.
Ishiha/Yisiha
Voiced by: Mana Hirata (Japanese), Hayden Daviau (English)
A new young eunuch who works at Feiyan Palace. He is from the Hatan tribe, one of the minority groups of Xiao.
- I See Dead People: He's the only one who can see the ghost at Feiyan Palace.
- You Remind Me of X: His straightforward and honest personality reminds Shouxue of Gaojun.
So Kougyou/Su Hongqiao
Voiced by: Naoko Komatsu (Japanese)
The former attendant of Lady Ban, the consort at the centre of the first case in the series. She later becomes a servant at Yeming Palace.
- Determinator: Even after having her tongue cut out and sent to the Wash House to live out the rest of her days, she got someone to teach her how to write and bided her time so she could one day tell someone the truth about her former mistress' death.
- Hidden Depths: She's revealed to be a talented artist.
- The Speechless: She can't talk because her tongue got cut out.
Reijou/Liniang
Voiced by: Honoka Inoue (Japanese)
The previous Raven Consort and Shouxue's mentor. She is now deceased.
- Mentor Archetype: She was Shouxue's mentor who taught her everything she needed to know as the Raven Consort.
- Offscreen Moment of Awesome: She exorcised all the Luan clan ghosts haunting Gaojun's grandfather in one go.
Xingxing/Shinshin
Voiced by: Riho Sugiyama (Japanese), Monica Rial (English)
The golden chicken that resides with the Raven Consort. Known mainly for being loud and uncooperative with her, but also has the ability to mark the next raven consort among other powers.
- Formerly Fit: Used to be a thin, svelte bird, but living in the inner palace, with all its decadent food has made it fat.
- Loyal Animal Companion: Loyal might be a bit of a stretch considering it's often making a racket, which annoys the Raven Consort who it also doesn't like going near, but it will act in defense of Shouxue, when need be.
- Really 700 Years Old: Has been around for thousands of years, living with and guiding every winter king, but looks just like a fat golden chicken in its prime.
Yuanyang Palace
Un Kajou/Yun Huaniang
Voiced by: Reina Ueda (Japanese)
The Duck Consort. The granddaughter of the prime minister, Yun Yongde.
- Childhood Friends: She and Gaojun are childhood friends.
- Cool Big Sis: To Gaojun. She also wants to be this to Shouxue and even tries to get her to call her "Ah-jie" (big sister), but Shouxue is reluctant to do so. At the end of Volume 7,
Shouxue finally calls her that. - Like Brother and Sister: She sees and treats Gaojun like a little brother.
- The Mourning After: She still mourns for her dead lover, Ou Xuanyou, whose soul never returned to her after he died.
- Used to Be a Tomboy: According to Gaojun, she used to be a tomboy when they were kids, but has mellowed out.
- Yamato Nadeshiko: Though this is a Chinese-inspired work, Huaniang fits the criteria, being a gentle, ladylike woman with a strong will.
Quechao Palace
Kin Keiyou/Qin Huiyao
Voiced by: Hisako Kanemoto (Japanese)
The former Magpie Consort. After her beloved brother died, she was wasting away with grief until Xiaoyue came to the inner palace and offered her a way to bring her brother "back" by creating a mud doll that looks exactly like her brother. Unfortunately, the mud doll needed to be fed with blood or it would grow violent, and Huiyao ended up getting inadvertently killed by it.
- Big Brother Attraction: Implied. The siblings were extremely close, almost too close, which worried their parents. Before a line could be crossed, their father decided to send Huiyao to the inner palace in the hopes that a long-term separation would allow them to drift apart. Of course, it didn't work.
Pohe Palace
Saname Banka
The current Crane Consort. She is the daughter of the wealthy Saname family.
You Juujou/Yang Shiniang
Voiced by: Haruka Shiraishi (Japanese), Cassie Ewulu (English)
An attendant of the current Crane Consort. During the reign of the previous emperor, she was the palace lady who would deliver food to Princess Skylark. The two girls formed a friendship.
- Delicate and Sickly: Like the princess, she tended to cough whenever the seasons changed. Shouxue describes her as being pale and delicate looking.
- Dissension Remorse: She had an argument with the princess the day before her death over whether or not the princess should appeal to her father about her poor living conditions. The princess refused, causing Shiniang to get angry and run out on her. She immediately regretted speaking to the princess in that way, but felt too guilty to visit her the next day, even when the princess's skylark was flying around and crying for help after the princess slipped into the pond. Unfortunately, the princess died before the two could reconcile.
- My Greatest Failure: She regrets hesitating to go to the princess even after hearing her skylark calling for help. She thinks that if she hadn't hesitated, the princess might have been saved.
Feiyan Palace
Shou Kouei/Chang Huangying
Voiced by: Manaka Iwami (Japanese)
The current Swallow Consort.
- Sheltered Aristocrat: For most of her life, she had a very sheltered upbringing in her family's mansion, which caused her to be somewhat immature and afraid of people older than her, which even includes Kajou.
Palace Staff and Officials
Ei Sei/Wei Qing
Voiced by: Taku Yashiro (Japanese), Lee George (English), Brittany Lauda (English, young)
An eunuch who is Gaojun's closest attendant. He met the latter when Gaojun was ten.
- Effeminate Voice: He has a high voice due to being a eunuch.
- Named After Somebody Famous: There is a very famous general of the Han dynasty who goes by the name of Wei Qing.
- Pretty Boy: It's speculated that his good looks partially stem from being a eunuch.
- Rape as Backstory: At the hands of his shifu, when he became an eunuch. Afterwards, Gaojun took him away from his shifu, earning him Wei Qing's gratitude and devotion.
- Son of a Whore: It's eventually revealed that he was the son of a prostitute who committed suicide.
- Undying Loyalty: He is extremely loyal to Gaojun. The reason why he doesn't like Shouxue is because she doesn't treat Gaojun with much respect.
Setsu Gyoei/Xue Yuyong
Voiced by: Tomokazu Sugita (Japanese)
The current Minister of Works. He was childhood friends with Li Niang.
- Childhood Friends: He grew up with Liniang and even followed her to the imperial palace after she was chosen as the Raven Consort.
- Secret-Keeper: As the Minister of Works, he is the only one besides the Raven Consort who knows the true history of the country.
Hasshin Sect
A newly popular sect that worships the White Turtle God. Hakurai
The founder of the Hasshin Sect and a sorcerer. He has a grudge against Niao Lian and her followers.
- Last Episode, New Character: Shows up near the end of episode 13.
Injou
The young priestess of the sect.
- Last Episode, New Character: Shows up near the end of episode 13.
Gods
Uren Niangniang/Niao Lian
The bird goddess worshipped by Xiao.
- The Chooser of the One: Chooses the next Raven Consort, with her decision being entirely based on whim.
- I Have Many Names: Niao Lian, Yeyoushen, the Raven...
- Sealed Inside a Person-Shaped Can: Her soul is currently housed in the body of the Raven Consort.
White Turtle God
The main antagonist of the series. He fought Niao Lian centuries ago and lost, but is currently seeking to make a comeback.
Others
Ran Hyougetsu/Luan Bingyue
Voiced by: Takuya Eguchi (Japanese)
A member of the Luan clan who was killed during the massacre ordered by Gaojun's grandfather. He was the grandson of the Luan emperor and a talented shaman.
- Anti-Villain: He's not really a villain, just someone with goals of his own that he is willing to carry out at any cost.
- Body Snatcher: He possessed many people in order to get to the inner palace. He also possessed Father Moonlight for a time.
- Hero of Another Story: As a famous and skilled shaman, he had a lot of anecdotes about him that are only briefly mentioned in the story.
- Powers via Possession: As he was a talented shaman and Father Moonlight wasn't, his abilities made Father Moonlight famous enough to have a sect created around him. It is unclear whether or not Father Moonlight knew he was being possessed.
- Pretty Boy: He's noted to be a handsome man. In Praying to Quartz, Shouxue learns that he was considered to be one of, if not the most, beautiful people in the Luan clan.
- Starter Villain: The main antagonist of the first volume. His connection to Shouxue and his cryptic statements about the Raven Consort kickstarts Gaojun's discovery of the true history of Xiao.
- White Hair, Black Heart: His ghost is the antagonist of the first volume and has the white hair that's characteristic of the Luan clan.
Princess Skylark
The daughter of the previous emperor and a palace lady, making her a Royal Bastard and Gaojun's half-sister. She died at thirteen after drowning in a pond. She got her nickname because sparrows (skylark in Japanese contains the character for sparrow) are considered dirty birds that ate off the ground.
- Delicate and Sickly: The princess was prone to getting fevers.
- Parental Neglect: Even after her mother died, the emperor never bothered to make sure she was taken care of, most likely because he was afraid of the empress.
- Rich Sibling, Poor Sibling: Despite being a princess, she lived by herself in a small palace in a corner of the inner palace without any servants. Compare to her half-brother Gaojun, who's the crown prince (though he didn't have it much better either as he was deposed at thirteen).
Hou Shougetsu/Feng Xiaoyue a.k.a. The Owl
Voiced by: Akira Ishida (Japanese)
A mysterious young man who is the current apprentice of Luan Bingyue's old master, Feng Yixing. It's later revealed that Xiaoyue is actually just a vessel remotely controlled by the Owl, a being of Kakurenomiya, to infiltrate the country of Xiao in order to kill the Raven Consort, who houses the soul of The Raven, his little sister.
- Big Brother Instinct: Though he doesn't hold back on criticizing his little sister's naivete and foolishness, most of his actions in the series stem from wanting to free his younger sister from her current predicament that was caused by Xiangqiang, the first Raven Consort (who he hates). He is willing to risk permanent exile to save her and does in Volume 7.
- Empty Eyes: His eyes look completely flat and emotionless, which makes sense considering how Xiaoyue is actually just a doll made by the Owl.
